How we work it out
Each fence type has a fully-installed price range per metre, materials and labour together, for a standard 1.8 metre boundary height on level, clear-access ground. Multiply that by your fence length, add a gate if you need one, and you've got a real range to compare a contractor's quote against.
Worked example: a 20 metre boundary fence in Colorbond® steel, no gate: 20 m × $85–$150/m comes to a $1,700 to $3,000 fully-installed range. Add a single pedestrian gate and that becomes roughly $1,950 to $3,650.
Which fence type?
Colorbond® steel is the most common boundary fence in Australia now: it doesn't rot, warp or need repainting, comes in a fixed range of factory colours, and typically carries a longer warranty than timber. Treated pine paling is the cheapest option and easy to repair panel by panel, but wants an oil or paint every couple of years and has the shortest lifespan of the common types, especially near the ground. Hardwood paling (merbau, spotted gum) costs more again but weathers well left bare and resists rot and termites better than pine. Chain-link or wire is the budget pick for a side or rear boundary where privacy doesn't matter. Pool fencing sits in its own category: it has to comply with Australian Standard AS 1926.1 (no climbable gaps, a self-closing and self-latching gate), which is what pushes aluminium and especially frameless glass pool fencing well above a standard boundary fence's price.
Splitting the cost with a neighbour
For a shared boundary fence, every state and territory has its own Dividing Fences Act (or equivalent), and the general rule under each is the same: adjoining owners split the cost of a "sufficient" dividing fence 50/50. If you want something above that standard, a taller fence, glass instead of timber, a privacy screen where a paling fence would do, your neighbour is generally only on the hook for half of what a standard sufficient fence would have cost, and you cover the difference yourself. Rules on notice periods, existing fences in reasonable condition, and damage caused by one owner vary by state, so check your own state's Act or a fencing dispute service before assuming a 50/50 split applies to your situation.
What can push the price higher
The ranges above assume level ground and clear access. Removing an old fence, a sloping or stepped fence line, retaining as you go, and difficult access for a truck or post-hole borer all add to the base rate, sometimes by $10 to $50 a metre depending on the job. Fences over 2 metres tall often need council approval, and pool fencing always needs to meet AS 1926.1 regardless of height, so factor a compliance check into a pool fence quote rather than just the per-metre rate.
Common questions
How much does a Colorbond fence cost per metre in Australia?
Roughly $85 to $150 per metre fully installed for a standard 1.8 metre boundary height on level, clear-access ground.
How much does a timber paling fence cost per metre?
Treated pine typically runs $75 to $120 per metre installed, hardwood like merbau or spotted gum $100 to $180, for a standard 1.8 metre height.
Do my neighbour and I have to split a dividing fence 50/50?
Generally yes, for a "sufficient" dividing fence, under your state or territory's own Dividing Fences Act. If you want something above that standard, your neighbour typically only owes half of what a standard fence would have cost, and you cover the difference.
Why does pool fencing cost so much more?
It has to comply with Australian Standard AS 1926.1, no climbable gaps, a self-closing and self-latching gate, which is what pushes aluminium and especially frameless glass pool fencing well above a standard boundary fence's price per metre.
Sources
Electricity rates: AER Default Market Offer (NSW, SA, south-east QLD), Victorian Default Offer, and each remaining state's regulated tariff, current for 2026–27. Appliance figures: the energyrating.gov.au registration database (July 2026 snapshot). Methods and assumptions are described on each page.